Senator Hassan Recognizes Dr. Reiko Johnson of Newfields and Dr. Nathan Swanson of Durham as October’s Granite Staters of the Month

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan recognized Dr. Reiko Johnson of Newfields and Dr. Nathan Swanson of Durham as October’s Granite Staters of the Month. The duo is working to provide free dental care for patients in need, including recently hosting a Dental Day of Caring this past month.

In March 2021, recently vaccinated and with an urge to give back to her community, Dr. Johnson began looking for medical volunteer opportunities. When she was not able to find a volunteer clinic in the area, she decided to take matters into her own hands and established the Volunteers in Medicine of New Hampshire (VIM-NH). The group held its first free clinic in January of this year, providing primary and acute care services for uninsured and underinsured patients and connecting them to long-term primary care providers.

However, over the months that followed, it became clear to Dr. Johnson that many of the clinic’s patients had critical dental issues that she and her volunteers were not equipped to deal with. To address this issue, Dr. Johnson partnered with Dr. Nathan Swanson last month to host VIM-NH’s first Dental Day of Caring. During the event, which took place at Dr. Swanson’s office using his equipment, the four volunteer dentists and six assistants provided 19 extractions, 10 fillings, and one root canal-- donating $11,531 total in services.

Senator Hassan launched the “Granite Stater of the Month” initiative in 2017 to recognize outstanding New Hampshire citizens who go above and beyond to help their neighbors and make their communities stronger. To nominate a New Hampshire citizen to be a “Granite Stater of the Month,” constituents can complete the nomination form here.

To read Senator Hassan’s statement for the Congressional Record, see below.

I am honored to recognize Dr. Reiko Johnson of Newfields and Dr. Nathan Swanson of Durham as October’s Granite Staters of the Month. The duo is working to provide free dental care for patients in need, including recently hosting a Dental Day of Caring this past month.

In March 2021, recently vaccinated and with an urge to give back to her community, Dr. Johnson began looking for medical volunteer opportunities. In the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, she had provided telehealth services as a primary care provider at Catholic Medical Center, and she was itching to be face-to-face with patients again. When she was not able to find a volunteer clinic in the area, she decided to take matters into her own hands and start her own mobile clinic, modeled on a free health clinic that she had previously volunteered at in Hampton.

Dr. Johnson established the Volunteers in Medicine of New Hampshire (VIM-NH) and held its first free clinic in January of this year, providing primary and acute care services for uninsured and underinsured patients and connecting them to long-term primary care providers. However, over the months that followed, it became clear to Dr. Johnson that many of the clinic’s patients had critical dental issues that she and her volunteers were not equipped to deal with.

To address this issue, Dr. Johnson partnered with Dr. Nathan Swanson last month to host VIM-NH’s first Dental Day of Caring. Dr. Swanson had learned about Dr. Johnson’s work from Emily Komerska, a UNH pre-med student and longtime family friend, and he immediately knew he wanted to get involved. During the event, which took place at Dr. Swanson’s office using his equipment, the four volunteer dentists and six assistants provided 19 extractions, 10 fillings, and one root canal – donating $11,531 total in services.

Dr. Johnson and Dr. Swanson’s partnership is a shining example of the Granite State spirit of coming together to help people in need. Many of the clinic’s patients, including people experiencing homelessness and people without insurance, would not be able to receive this vital care otherwise. I applaud Dr. Johnson and Dr. Swanson’s dedication to making a difference, and I look forward to seeing how they continue their Dental Day of Caring initiative.

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